Inside the Game: Madera South 39, Pacheco Panthers 28

2017-10-05

Player of the game: Every week Kaleb Roth could be chosen as a player of the week, but it’s good to pass the baton. Roth was his usual self on Friday night. He led the team with 85 yards rushing and added two more touchdowns to his season total. He also led the team with 13 tackles, going sideline to sideline. Roth’s 14 touchdowns this season are tied for fourth all time with four games still left to play.

Unsung hero of the game: Liberty safety and fullback Tahner Green kept the Hawks’ defense tough against the run. Patterson’s vaunted running game only averaged three yards per carry. Green recorded six tackles at safety. He also came in late and gave his team a spark running the football. He had five rushes for 38 yards and scored a touchdown.

Play of the game: Liberty trailed 17-14 with about four minutes left in the first half and had to punt. Greyson Hoelzel sent a punt back to the Patterson 30-yard line. However, Raymond Smith got the ball, found a seam and ran through the Liberty punt team for a 70-yard touchdown to extend the lead to 24-14. The touchdown was the third of four in a six minute span to turn a 14-3 Liberty lead into a 31-14 halftime deficit.

Drive of the game: Despite trailing by 33 points late in the fourth quarter, the Hawks never gave up moving the ball. After a Patterson field goal, Green got the drive started with a six-yard gain. Kaleb Roth went for 27 yards and Green carried for seven yards. Wyatt Roth got the first down with a five-yard gain and Kaleb Roth added seven more yards. Green went up the middle for 17 yards to the one-yard line. Head coach Mike Nolte rewarded Green with the ball at the one and Green scored the game’s final touchdown.